Modernisation efforts continue at Judicial Department

The Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi is embarking on an efficiency drive as part of efforts to modernise.

ABU DHABI // The emirate's Judicial Department is embarking on an efficiency drive as part of modernisation efforts. The department announced at the weekend that an inspection team would determine the "strength and weaknesses" of each employee as a way of moving towards its "five-year strategic plan" unveiled last year. Since Abu Dhabi opted out of the federal justice system, a royal decree created the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department on May 17, 2007, with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan as its chairman.

The new decree gave the department authority over all levels of judiciary: the Court of First Instance, the Appeal Court and the Court of Cassation. The department has also announced training sessions and workshops for employees on a continuing basis. As it becomes more dependent upon computers, the department will train staff in IT skills. Language courses will also be offered to employees to help serve an ever-growing English-speaking population.